NIEVERA: “Jed Madela sings better than I do.”
Though he’s dubbed “Concert King” in the local music industry, Martin Nievera confessed that he sometimes got anxious about whether or not he still has enough drawing power to fill up a large venue like the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Audiences’ tastes in music, he pointed out, had changed.
He shared some apprehensions with the Inquirer: “I do worry about attendance. Maybe people are looking for someone new or different. I don’t know if they still want to listen to me. Do I still have fans or have they moved on to another artist?”
Martin acknowledged, however, that he performed to a packed Big Dome during his “#3D: Tatlong Dekada” concert last September. “I’m just so blessed … for someone who’s been here 30 years, filling up Araneta the way I did is something I’m proud of,” he said.
Better colleagues
Asked if he thought that solidified his place in the biz as “Concert King,” the 51-year-old balladeer quickly dismissed the idea, saying that titles were just that—titles, and nothing more.
“I think Jed Madela sings better than I do. I think Erik Santos has a stronger voice. Charice is definitely more popular. I think Gary V is more poetic and lighter on his feet. I never thought of myself as the best. I just perform to the best of my abilities,” Martin said.
But while he doesn’t see himself as “king,” he always tries to give performances fit for a king.
“The audience is king,” he stressed. “My goal is to entertain and give them a concert worth their time and money.”
Martin also said he hoped to inspire long-retired 1980s colleagues to sing again. He elaborated: “I believe there’s a place for us seniors in the industry. Now all the ’80s singers are going to come out of their graves and say, ‘You know what? Kung kaya ni Martin, kaya ko rin!’”
His initial plan after “#3D” was to hold a series of more intimate shows. But clamor for a repeat of the concert was strong, Martin said, and he was more than happy to oblige. “Repeats happen often, but not anymore. I’m just happy that I was asked to do it again. It’s a big risk for a dinosaur like me,” he said, laughing now.
Titled “#3D2: Tatlong Dekada,” the repeat concert will be held Nov. 22 at the Big Dome. Martin said he would tweak the repertoire a little for returning fans. “There will be more surprises. I will do a few different songs to rouse their interest.”
Lesson from Anne
Confidently, he stated, “As far as songs and performances go, I think I have nothing more to prove.” But of course, he stressed, “I want to fill up the venue again for my producers and all the people who still believe in me.”
Meanwhile, Martin and actress Anne Curtis’ mashup of David Guetta’s “Without You” and U2’s “With or Without You” has registered over two million views since it was uploaded to YouTube last August. Martin said collaborating with newer celebrities was his way of getting in touch with the younger audience.
And though a lot of critics knock Anne for insisting on singing despite, uh, vocal deficiencies, Martin said he had a lot to learn from the bubbly celeb.
To dream again
“Anne can teach old artists like me how to dream again and be driven; how to be excited about a high note, to be grateful to be in tune. While [most] of us are bitching about clothes, billing and talent fee, Anne just does what makes her happy,” he explained.
As he approaches his 31st year in the biz, Martin is taking extra care of his health in order to preserve his voice: “I don’t smoke or drink … like, ever. And I’m more health-conscious now. I try to just keep singing because you’ll lose it if you stop.”
Martin added that his definition of what makes a great singer has changed through the years. “If you can make your whispers get the same response as your belting, you’re good. That’s what I try to do more of; I try to play with the emotions.”
“#3D2: Tatlong Dekada” tickets are available at TicketNet.
(E-mail apolicarpio @inquirer.com.ph)